Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Benzoyl Formic Acids with Toluenes: Synthesis of 2-Phenylacetophenones

Herein, we report a direct method to synthesize 2-phenylacetophenone through a ruthenium(II)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between acyl and benzyl radical. The various derivatives of 2-phenylacetophenone were prepared easily in moderate to good yields. These reactions provide a straightforward pathway to synthesize a variety of ketones bearing various functional groups.